I searched online and there's not much press available at all for the new Hisense Vidaa TV. (Seems as though the upcoming Roku TVs from Hisense & TCL have captured all of the media attention for now). All I could find was this rather negative review from USA Today:

I read that Hisense likes the Vidaa model because they heavily customized the interface. It's not what one would consider to be a 'vanilla GTV'. But it's got the PrimeTime app and all of the other GTV features. It's based on the android Jellybean OS (android 4.2.2).

Also Hisense is coming out with Roku TVs soon in 4 sizes - so this could be why Hisense hasn't officially been named as an Android TV partner (they like to customize the interface & Android TV doesn't allow customization, plus Roku can be considered as a competing product line). If the Android TVs sell well they might still jump on board later and carry both a Roku and Android TV line. That's just my take on it.....

My recommendation is that potential purchasers of Hisense Vision and Hisense Vidaa TVs base their purchase decision on the features and the OS that those TVs run now. IMO it is rather doubtful that these TVS will be updated to the Android TV platform when it comes out in the coming months.

However there very well could be some Android TV apps that will be available for these Jellybean TVs (Google has stated that the Android TV apps will support android API 17 - meaning that the apps can run on Jellybean devices. So App developers can enable their Android TV apps to run on Jellybean devices).

As I mentioned I couldn't find much current news from the press about the Hisense Vidaa TV - however back in January of this year there were quite a few articles about the Hisense Vidaa television at CES (Consumer Electronics Show). If any of you are interested in reading more about the Vidaa TV the following thread has several links and videos about it:

I bought one of these TV's. Picture itself is excellent, and that alone is worth the price as it's much cheaper than anything comparable. UI is OK, running 4.2.2. I managed to sideload an older version of HBOGo, which I guess is compatible with the version of flash on this machine. It has some Chromecast capability, but so far it seems it only works with YouTube.

My biggest complaint is that Play Music isn't playing music. Of course Hisense support referred me to Google, who then said they don't officially support the model. Might need to try sideloading an older version of that, but I would have thought that an app it shipped with should be working.

I bought one of these TV's. Picture itself is excellent, and that alone is worth the price as it's much cheaper than anything comparable. UI is OK, running 4.2.2. I managed to sideload an older version of HBOGo, which I guess is compatible with the version of flash on this machine. It has some Chromecast capability, but so far it seems it only works with YouTube.

My biggest complaint is that Play Music isn't playing music. Of course Hisense support referred me to Google, who then said they don't officially support the model. Might need to try sideloading an older version of that, but I would have thought that an app it shipped with should be working.

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As far as I know all Google TV models have YouTube remote casting ability with Android smart phones and tablets. I know I tried it years ago, long before Chromecast and it worked well. Now it may be called something different but otherwise it is nothing new. I just don't care to select what I watch using a phone or tablet so I don't use it.

Very strange that Google Play Music isn't working but I will bet there is a good fix for that, I just don't know what.

I bought one of these TV's. Picture itself is excellent, and that alone is worth the price as it's much cheaper than anything comparable. UI is OK, running 4.2.2. I managed to sideload an older version of HBOGo, which I guess is compatible with the version of flash on this machine. It has some Chromecast capability, but so far it seems it only works with YouTube.

My biggest complaint is that Play Music isn't playing music. Of course Hisense support referred me to Google, who then said they don't officially support the model. Might need to try sideloading an older version of that, but I would have thought that an app it shipped with should be working.

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The new Roku televisions from Hisense and TCL are very inexpensive and comparable in price to the Hisense android televisions. IMO the picture quality is also comparable. Videophiles will notice that the picture isn't as good as most more expensive televisions - but to the general consumer the picture most likely appears to be just fine (most consumers aren't videophiles) - which makes these TVs a good deal for the price.

Here's a review of the Hisense Vidaa from a videophile's perspective. The big complaint for him is the picture quality:

However most of the consumer reviews for the Hisense android televisions are pleased with the picture quality so it's good enough to offer a nice deal for the price.

Here's a review of the new TCL 48" Roku television from a videophile's perpective (see link below). The review is very similar to the Hisense android television review - in that the review says the picture quality is mediocre while the smart features and prices are good . It's also currently rated 4.4 stars on Amazon with the customer ratings - (which is the exact same customer rating for the Hisense Vidaa TV on the Best Buy web site). The TCL 48" Roku television sells for $499.

This is just my personal opinion - but seeing as how the Hisense android TV requires putzing around trying to find an old HBO GO APK not designed for TV - and then going through the trouble of sideloading it - puts it at a disadvantage to the Roku televisions. Also since it's just a sideloaded app there's a chance that it it might become non-functional in the future.

Also the Hisense android TVs don't have dedicated apps for Hulu Plus, MLB TV, Watch ESPN and a bunch more - Roku has apps for all of those that work well without sideloading. I believe Hulu Plus doesn't even work if sideloaded on the Hisense android TV.

The bottom line: For the android enthusiast perhaps the Hisense android television is more appealing - but for the general consumer just wanting simplicity with the most content the Roku televisions probably offer a better experience/value.

I would say there is no way Roku can provide access to more content than Google TV, at least not if you know how to use Google TV. There is a lot of content available with the browser but no way I can find to get to it with Roku. The last few weeks I have been planted at PGA.com on Thursdays and Fridays and until the FedEx Cup is decided in a month or so, that will be the norm.

There are many streaming sites accessible by browser with no Roku channel. Google TV in combination with PlayOn covers everything I want accessible with Roku that can't be accessed directly by Google TV. The reverse just isn't possible, a few other sites I use with Google TV and can't find any way to access with Roku, Internet Archive, METV, and sports streaming sites.

I would say there is no way Roku can provide access to more content than Google TV, at least not if you know how to use Google TV. There is a lot of content available with the browser but no way I can find to get to it with Roku. The last few weeks I have been planted at PGA.com on Thursdays and Fridays and until the FedEx Cup is decided in a month or so, that will be the norm.

There are many streaming sites accessible by browser with no Roku channel. Google TV in combination with PlayOn covers everything I want accessible with Roku that can't be accessed directly by Google TV. The reverse just isn't possible, a few other sites I use with Google TV and can't find any way to access with Roku, Internet Archive, METV, and sports streaming sites.

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Keep in mind the browser on the Hisense android TV doesn't support Flash - thus the web sites from HBO GO, Watch ESPN, and most all of the major TV networks don't work. As you mentioned all of this will require PlayOn and a PC - which adds complexity into the equation. My prediction is that the Roku televisions will outsell the android televisions by a big margin.

It looks like the 55" Hisense Vidaa (H7) TV is no longer on sale. I just checked the Best Buy web site and the price is back up to $699.99.

I also looked on the Walmart web site and the 55" Hisense Vision (H6) TV is still selling for $598.

I looked on the Hisense web site for specs on both of these models and no information is given about the processor and amount of RAM. My guess is that these TVs use the Marvell Armada 1500 Plus chip (or something similar in nature) with 1 GB of RAM. I believe Hisense considers the Vidaa television a step up because it's referred to as "H7" - while the Vision TV is "H6". It's hard to say if there are significant differences in the hardware between the two models. Probably the biggest difference is in the software - the Vidaa television has a heavily customized interface. So that is something decided by one's own personal preference.

If anyone wants to compare the 'official' specs made public by Hisense - here's the links from the Hisense USA web site:

*Video Description From OP:
Hisense took what's left of Google TV and added its own vision for how a smart TV should look like. Mo Selim, Principal Designer of Hisense's design and development shop Jamdeo, gave me a demo of the company's Vidaa smart TV at CEs 2014.

Keep in mind the browser on the Hisense android TV doesn't support Flash - thus the web sites from HBO GO, Watch ESPN, and most all of the major TV networks don't work. As you mentioned all of this will require PlayOn and a PC - which adds complexity into the equation. My prediction is that the Roku televisions will outsell the android televisions by a big margin.

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I know it is an unfortunate situation that Google TV requires PlayOn and a PC for sites the browser can get to but no longer play, but that is just the way it is. I have Roku right beside Google TV and use both so it is easy to compare available content. Roku closed the gap a lot by adding ESPN3, Vudu and YouTube and is really a nice smart TV platform and very popular.

Does PGA.com require Adobe Flash? It works really well with Google TV but I don't even know what the requirements are.